All students will progress to the next level in the next academic year

All students will progress to the next level in the next academic year which will have four school terms.

Minister for Education Premila Kumar says the first school term next year will be just for revision and the other 3 terms will be for the new school year.

Legend FM News has established that schools are currently handing out open book test papers to all students that parents have to pick up from respective schools. These test papers are to be done by students at home and returned by a certain date.

Parents have to ensure that these open book test papers are done by their children.

Some concerns have been raised for children who are not able to access zoom classes or worksheets due to difficulties faced by their parents.

Worksheets are also being given out that have to be returned by certain dates for the assessment of students.

The Education Minister says all students will be assessed so that when they move to the next academic year, the teachers would know about the students’ performance.

However she says this does not mean that they will hold students back.

Kumar also says that since schools have been closed for almost 5 months, there can be issues regarding school dropouts and it may be difficult to get all the students who were enrolled in the beginning of the year to come back.

She says the Ministry will work with the heads of schools, teachers, NGOs and faith-based organizations to ensure these students return to school.

Kumar adds they will be doing an assessment of every student to understand what their needs are because there may be some students who will not be able to bring lunch to school.

She says all the other relevant details will be disclosed upon receiving approval from the Ministry of Health.

Kumar has also revealed that with more than 17,000 of our children vaccinated, we are getting closer to the opening of schools for year 12 and 13 students.